As if the Battle of Ontario didn't have enough spice already Bobby Ryan's arrival has added another subplot.

The new Senators winger will get his first glimpse of the Battle of Ontario in a pre-season version of the provincial rivalry as the Toronto Maple Leafs arrive at the Canadian Tire Centre Thursday night.

But Ryan 26 is familiar with Toronto coach Randy Carlyle from being together with the Anaheim Ducks and while there's mutual respect they won't be spending any time in the hallway after the game catching up.

"We're not going to say hello or anything but it certainly won't be something where I'm aiming a puck at the bench. That's for sure ... That's not going to cross my mind at all" said Ryan with a smile Wednesday.

Carlyle and Ryan didn't always see eye-to-eye during their four years together with the Ducks. Carlyle demanded that Ryan be part of the program and that's a big reason why his name always lingered in trade rumours.

Looking back on it all though the four-time 30-plus goal scorer appreciates the way Carlyle pushed Ryan's buttons even if he didn't like it at the time. What has happened in the past according to Ryan is water under the bridge.

"There's a lot more made of that than there really is" said Ryan. "People tended to read into more than there was. It wasn't a bad relationship it just wasn't a great one.

"He's a tough coach. I do still really owe him quite a bit for becoming the player I am. That isn't lost on me one bit."

Carlyle is considered by many to be a taskmaster. You either buy into the program or you won't play. There is no question the relationship was strained when he left the Ducks.

"He's extremely demanding and he's tough but he's also very fair" said Ryan. "He can be a players' coach. He wants to get the best out of you so I think I was young and didn't always understand he always had my best intentions in mind for the team.

Ryan said he's grown up a lot since Carlyle left the Ducks after being fired by GM Bob Murray only 24 games into the 2011-12 season.

"Sometimes I felt like he was a little too hard on me" said Ryan. "That was just being young and not taking things the right way. That's all it was. I don't think it was any reason he was let go or anything like that.

"I just wish I hadn't taken it so personally when it came across. That's all it was. I truthfully don't think he had anything but the best intentions for me."